Dating a vintage Koken barber chair may not be a straightforward task, but the journey into the history, design, and community surrounding these magnificent chairs is deeply rewarding. While a definitive serial number list may remain the "holy grail" for collectors, the methods described here will empower you to unlock the story of your own piece of barbering history.
If your chair has a serial number that isn't on the list, or the number is illegible, you can still date it with high accuracy using visual cues.
: If the chair has a working hydraulic lift, it was likely manufactured after Ernest Koken's 1892 patent.
White, green, or black porcelain finishes with chrome or nickel plating. vintage koken barber chair serial number list
Since no master list exists, use these (tested by collectors):
Popularization of the "Congress" model, transitional flat-bar brackets c. 1916 – 1925
If you find a stamped 4-digit or 5-digit number that does not match a patent date, it is likely an internal factory batch number. Antique barber chair restoration groups online utilize crowd-sourced databases to match these batch numbers to verified manufacturing years. Dating a vintage Koken barber chair may not
The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Koken Barber Chair Serial Numbers
: Look for a stamped number on the flat part of the base plate. Hydraulic reservoir
Before you search for a list, you must find the number. On a vintage Koken barber chair, look in these three places (in order of likelihood): : If the chair has a working hydraulic
If you want, I can:
Since a master list is unavailable, a combination of indirect methods is required to determine a chair's age:
Occasionally, you may find casting numbers under the footrest (e.g., #1174), but these are often part numbers rather than the sequential serial number. Identifying Age via Design Features